Paracetamol is thought to relieve pain by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord. It works to bring down a fever by affecting an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature (the hypothalamic heat-regulating center). This stops you feeling hot or shivery.

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Phenylephrine relieves a blocked nose by causing the blood vessels in the linings of the nasal passages and sinuses to contract and narrow. This decreases blood flow into the linings of the nose and sinuses, which reduces the feeling of congestion and also reduces the production of mucus.

Caffeine is a mild stimulant that helps reduce fatigue. Caffeine is also thought to enhance the painkilling effect of paracetamol.

Don't take this medicine continuously for more than three days without getting medical advice. If your symptoms don't go away or get worse despite taking this medicine, ask your pharmacist for advice.

Don't take more than the recommended dose. Do not take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules with any other products that contain paracetamol, as this can easily result in exceeding the maximum dose of paracetamol.

An overdose of paracetamol is dangerous and capable of causing serious damage to the liver and kidneys.

Get immediate medical advice if you or someone you know takes too much paracetamol, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.

Women who are pregnant. (Phenylephrine has blood vessel constricting effects that could restrict blood supply to the placenta, or cause problems for women with a history of pre-eclampsia. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on how to treat cold and flu symptoms during pregnancy.)

Women who are breastfeeding. (It's not known if phenylephrine passes into breast milk, or its effect on a nursing infant. When taken by mouth, decongestants such as phenylephrine can also temporarily decrease the production of breast milk with just one or two doses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.)

What are the possible side effects of Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules?

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with the ingredients of Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules. Just because a side effect is stated here doesn't mean that all people using this medicines will experience that or any side effect.

Allergic reactions such as a rash or itching. Stop using this medicine and get medical advice if you think you've had an allergic reaction to it.

Read the leaflet that comes with the medicine or talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you want any more information about the possible side effects of Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules. If you think you have experienced a side effect, did you know you can report this using the yellow card website?

Can I take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules with other medicines?

If you're already taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and those bought without a prescription, you should always check with your pharmacist before taking Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules as well, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Don't take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules with any other medicines that contain paracetamol or a decongestant. Many over-the-counter painkillers and cold and flu remedies contain these ingredients. It's important to check the ingredients of any medicines you buy without a prescription before taking them with Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules, or ask your pharmacist for advice. Using more than one medicine with the same (or similar) active ingredients at the same time could lead to you exceeding the maximum dose or having a higher risk of side effects.

It's fine to take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules with plain ibuprofen or aspirin(assuming these are appropriate for you). However, don't take them with co-codamol, co-dydramol or Tramacet because these contain paracetamol.

Don't take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules if you have taken a type of medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days. MAOIs include the antidepressants phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid and moclobemide, and the anti-Parkinson's medicines selegiline, safinamide and rasagiline. This is because the combination of phenylephrine with these medicines could cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis).

Don't take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules if you're taking any of the following medicines, because the combination may increase your blood pressure:

If you're taking medicines for high blood pressure you shouldn't take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules, because the decongestant may make your blood pressure medicine less effective.

If you take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules in the hour before or the six hours after taking colestyramine, the paracetamol is likely to be less effective. This is because colestyramine reduces the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.

The antidiabetic medicines exenatide, lixisenatide and liraglutide may slow down the absorption of paracetamol into the bloodstream, so it might take longer to work if you're using one of these medicines to treat your diabetes. Ask your pharmacist for more advice.

If you're taking the anti-cancer medicines imatinib or busulfanyou should not take Sudafed congestion & headache relief max strength capsules without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.